Perkin Pepper knocked on the door of Pansy Pearlheart’s cottage, a bouquet of glowing starpoppies behind his back. He crossed two of his four long fingers for luck, and held his breath.

The door opened with a squeak, and the top of Pansy’s head appeared, followed by her violet eyes and the tip of her turned-up nose. She stepped out and closed the door quickly behind her, brushing flour from her ruffled pinafore.

“Perkin!” she whispered. “What are you doing here?” A butterfly lit on her shoulder, sending up brightly colored sparks before flittering away.

Perkin produced the bouquet with a flourish. He doffed his cap and bowed low. “Miss Pansy Pearlheart, I’ve come to ask you—“

“Shh!” Pansy touched a finger to Perkin’s lips. Glancing behind her, she led Perkin into the shadow of a large tree. Its bright blue leaves had been whispering, but they hushed when Pansy started to talk. “Papa says you’re not to come here any more. He says I can’t be seen with you, now that you’re…” She hesitated, and a tear welled in the corner of her left eye. The flowers that dotted the lawn drooped, with a sad little hum. “…now that you’re Green.”

Perkin dropped the starpoppies, which scampered away, softly chattering. “What do you mean, I’m Green?” He held out his hands and waggled all eight fingers. “See? I’m just as Purple as you are!”

Pansy blushed, and her lavender cheeks became a pretty dusky rose. “Papa says you’ve been cavorting with G-green folk, so I guess that makes you G-green.”

“But Pansy! I’m not Green! Look!” He pushed up the sleeves of his tunic, then thrust out one knobby, plum-colored knee. “See, Purple!”

With a look of hope, Pansy stooped to pick up one straggling starpoppy and tuck it behind her ear. It wiggled into place and chirped contentedly. “So you haven’t been—you-know-what?”

A fluffy white kitten walked between them on two legs and stopped to listen, munching on a cricket.

Perkin paused, remembering…

He’d been walking to the market when they called out to him, three grass-green lads casually leaning against a wall. “Hey, you! Lilac-liver! C’mere, we wanna show ya somethin’!”

Perkin tried to look brave. He sauntered toward the trio, stumbling once on a stone in the road. The stone grunted and shuffled out of his way.

The tallest lad draped an arm over Perkin’s shoulder and drew him in, showing him things he’d never seen…

He came back often to enjoy the unfamiliar Green wonders. Eventually, the lads taught him the Green Song, and he would join in nightly, brandishing a tankard of viridian ale:

What a wonderful color is Green!
All the others are simply obscene.
Red, yellow, and blue
Are like buckets of poo,
And there’s nothing that rhymes with Purple!

Green food is the best you can find,
But those Purples eat horses’ behinds!
They eat garbage and trash
That will give you a rash—
Like liver and peach pits and rinds!

Green music will give you a thrill,
And Purple songs just make you ill--
When they sing, kittens die
And Green babies all cry
‘Cause it’s vile, disgusting, and shrill!

Green houses are fancy and nice,
Filled with every convenient device;
But those Purples are poor.
I am perfectly sure
That their hovels are crawling with mice!

Green girls are the prettiest, too—
And they know what to do with shampoo.
Not like those Purple hags
Who are greasy old bags,
And their skin is a hideous hue!

The song went on for several more verses, and Perkin sang them all with gusto, paying scant attention to the image of Pansy Pearlheart’s smiling lavender face, rapidly fading from memory…

“Well?”

Perkin gazed at his toes. “Maybe I’ve made a few Green friends—but I’m still Purple, I promise!”

Pansy’s eyes filled again, and this time two sparkling tears landed upon the grass. She touched Perkin’s cheek with one soft hand. “Purple isn’t here, Perkin. It’s in your heart. Come back when your heart is Purple again.”

She turned and walked back to her cottage, petticoats a-swish.

A pair of tiny white flowers sprang up in the grass, their petals embracing two glistening tears.

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I also enjoyed your creativity, and did I sense some allegory as well? I love your glimpse in to this different world, and hope we might get to know it better in the future.
This would even have worked for last week. :-)

Well, I was only going to comment on those entries that had few or no remarks this morning, but I just COULD NOT skip this one. It's simply a masterpiece. It's fantasy and fun and truth, all mixed up into one tasty story. If it doesn't place, I'll give it my own award.

Definitely Seuss-ish. Right on topic. My favorite part is the song. Reminds me of the smart, funny songs in some recent Disney movies that you have to listen to to get all the jokes. Good lesson that purple is in the heart. Would make a wonderful children's book. (they'd love the line about poo)

Aww! Poor Pansy! I think she really liked Perkin! The song was funny and sad at the same time, but I felt as if I were in a fairy-world! The ending with the two flowers and the tears, was my favorite line! ^_^

Oh my, Jan, how do you do it? Do you have a secret you can share?! Hmmmm? This is a magnificent piece of work! I love your song, too. Do you make up songs for your kids at school? I betcha your school kids love having you as a teacher!
Laury

I am in awe of your creativity and ability to pull it off in such few words each time.( our word limit I mean).. truly an inspiration and encouragement to all of us! THANKS Jan for raising the bar of excellence .. you are special and your writing shows it... Dianne J.

I'm a bit late in reading this but it was delightfully cute, funny, creative, descriptive and I agree with the others--it should be illustrated as a children's book. Loved how you gave personality to everything--the stone, flowers, butterfly, etc. Very talented writing!!!